I don’t share before and after photos of my clients. Here’s why…

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When you scroll through social media and land on a fitness influencer/coach/nutritionist’s page—you often see before and after photos of clients. These transformation photos highlight the changes in a client’s body that was achieved with their coach’s guidance. It can serve as proof that a coach can help clients reach their goals. If that’s the case, then why do I choose not to share my clients’ progress photos? Before we get into it, let’s rewind to a time when I knew close to nothing about nutrition.

Storytime…

It’s 2012 — I was getting serious about weight lifting and my goal was to look ripped AF! Remember the Oxygen magazine and bodybuilding.com days?! (IYKYK). Oxygen magazine featured beautiful women with muscles who looked like they can kick ass and look pretty at the same time — from Chady Dunmore, Lolo Jones, Andreia Brazier, and the one and only, Jamie Eason. It was a refreshing take on beauty and health, which was typically focused on thinness.

I started following a bunch of fitness influencers on social media and eventually hired a coach who had a few bikini bodybuilding titles under her belt. I thought, maybe she can help me get the physique I want since she’s already done it herself. Makes sense, right?

Part of the program included sending in weekly progress photos, which I honestly didn’t mind at the time. In hindsight, it wasn’t all that helpful. Sometimes I was bloated, especially when I was PMSing or on my menstrual cycle. I also became constipated from the super restrictive meal plan I was given (low fiber and VERY low calorie), which made me look even more bloated. I felt like I had to suck in my stomach to show “progress”.

Sometimes I couldn’t even see if there was a difference from my last photos. The thing is, our bodies look different depending on the lighting situation, our pose, the angle a photo is taken, etc. At times, it made me feel like I wasn’t doing enough. I completed the program anyway, got leaner (temporarily), and learned some lessons along the way.

The lessons…

I made the mistake of hiring a coach who had no formal education or professional experience in nutrition or exercise science. I liked her a lot — she was lovely, caring, and didn’t mean any harm, but that program wasn’t for me. I wasn’t trying to compete in bodybuilding shows and at the end of the day, it wasn’t sustainable. I felt hungry, low in energy, constipated, and deprived.

I needed my Filipino food. I needed variety!

I needed to live. I needed to poop. I also needed the brain power to study (I started taking basic nutrition classes around this time). I was aiming to look like a fitness model, which was unrealistic because that type of lifestyle just wasn’t for me.

At the end of the day, I realized that only focusing on my physique wasn’t enough — I wanted to get fit to prioritize my health and become stronger.

So, why don’t I share before and after photos of my clients on social media? 

I don’t require progress photos.

If a client wants to take progress photos, they can. It’s a tool that can be helpful for some, while it may be harmful for others. Progress photos can be effective for those who want an alternative method to track body composition changes objectively (in addition to or instead of measuring weight or body fat percentage), without emotional attachment. However, they may not be suitable for those dealing with body dysmorphia or eating disorders.

My main focus as a dietitian and wellness coach is on health and wellbeing. I work with people on understanding basic nutrition principles so they don’t get sucked into the noise. And we all know — there’s a lot of noise out there! I prioritize long-term behavior change and lifestyle practices that can benefit clients in the future.

I’m not a bodybuilding coach.

Bodybuilding is an extreme sport (some may argue against this, but I’m not here for that). People compete in bodybuilding, which is based on a person’s physique. Competitors have to go through extreme measures to look a certain way, and I respect that. But, it’s not for everyone. If you’re aiming to look like someone who competes in bodybuilding (or any sport, for that matter), you’ll likely need to follow a lifestyle of someone who competes in bodybuilding. Are your expectations realistic?

Not everyone is looking to lose weight or get lean or look a certain way.

Some people want to gain weight, some people want to maintain, and some people aren’t focused on weight at all. Some have goals beyond aesthetics — learning how to cook nutritious meals from their cultural foods, lowering blood sugar or cholesterol, improving energy levels, feeling good and being able to keep up with their children, etc. While weight loss might be part of what’s needed to achieve their goal, progress photos might not be appropriate.

Transformation photos don’t represent the whole picture of “progress”.

Let’s not deny the fact that our bodies will go through physical changes when we make significant adjustments to our diet and exercise habits. However, you can “look good” and feel horrible at the same time. Looking good is subjective.

Progress goes beyond the surface. Maybe you improved your relationship with food and your body. Maybe you learned how to be more flexible with what you’re eating and still meet your nutrition needs. Maybe you’ve learned to identify nutrition misinformation and now you’re more confident in what direction to take with your health. You can’t see everything in a photo.

And hey, there is nothing wrong with feelin’ yourself and looking good!

The key here is recognizing if something is helpful or harmful for YOU. Progress photos are simply another tool you can use — if they help, cool. If not, move on and focus on what truly matters to you.